I have a question for you Southbeachers out there:
Are lettuce wraps at Pei Wei/P. F. Chang’s “legal”? I suspect that the sauce they put into the stuff is not kosher, so to speak, but I noticed that at least Pei Wei puts that stuff on the side in a little container (along with a side of soy sauce).
Does anyone have any wisdom on this issue?
What about Chinese Food in general? Can Southbeachers eat at buffets? 
Sorry, dunno. When I’ve had Chinese I’ve stuck to stir-fry things where you choose what you want and they cook it there and then. Or things cooked by my Chinese housemate ‘cos I know what’s she’s put in it.
Comment by Bekki — May 18, 2007 @ 1:10 am
My guess is that anything with the sauces is a no no. General Tso’s (love the stuff!) honey chicken, almond chicken, sweet and sour anything… That stuff is breaded so another “not so wise” in my book. Many of their sauces have sugar. I’m with Becki on the stir fry stuff…Mongolian is GREAT for those of us wanting something (so long as it is the buffet where you get to put your stuff together and then watch them cook it).
Anyways, I’m not a SBeacher but this is what is true for moi.
Comment by Tami — May 18, 2007 @ 3:59 am
Bird, here’s what the says:
To give Americanized Chinese food a South Beach makeover, minimize the huge amounts of saturated fat used to prepare it. Ask that your dish be prepared without MSG, the flavoring agent often used in Chinese cuisine. While it’s made from beets, a healthy vegetable, MSG has a very high glycemic index (GI).
Try egg drop soup or any combination of steamed fresh vegetables prepared with small amounts of meat, poultry, or seafood. Stay away from: steamed rice (it has a high GI); the deep-fried, crispy noodles; egg rolls; fried dumplings; spareribs; lo mein; moo goo gai pan; Peking duck; and entrees described on the menu as “crispy” or “sweet and sour.”
Also, many sauces may be thickened with cornstarch. Ask the waiter for sauces prepared without added cornstarch.
Comment by Missy — May 18, 2007 @ 4:04 am
…sigh…
I never close my tags. I could really use a “preview” before I submit.
Bird, that is what the South Beach website says.
Comment by Missy — May 18, 2007 @ 4:06 am
So, basically everything I like best is out! Oh wait, I’m not a Beach Baby.
I haven’t had Chinese in a while and find I haven’t missed it much. But Japanese? That I would miss exceedingly!
Comment by lady laura — May 18, 2007 @ 6:06 am
Without added cornstarch? Don’t all Chinese sauces have cornstarch? How “bad” is cornstarch for SB? Anybody know?
Comment by Brandi — May 18, 2007 @ 6:22 am
I usually do Chinese food at home or I order from menu with some special requests, but I find it near impossible to do a Chinese buffet. Authentic (Non-americanized) Chinese food doesn’t exist in Texas! The real stuff is healthier. So is Japanese. I’m with Lady Laura, couldn’t do without the Japanese food!
Comment by Missy — May 18, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Actually, “Authentic (Non-americanized) Chinese food” does exist in Texas. I’ve had it in both Austin and Dallas. . . key is you have to walk past the buffet and order in Chinese from the Chinese only menu in the back.
At a place in Arlington, I ate with a bunch of Taiwanese that way–our “sweet and sour chicken” was not breaded and the sauce was a light pink almost orange color and very runny. The same resturant’s “sweet and sour chicken” on the buffet line out front was a bright red, very thick and to be poured over heavily breaded and fried chicken.
Comment by amanda — May 19, 2007 @ 7:18 am